The Arizona sentinel., 1887-08-13
MURcERoUs MALAYs.
What the Phrase Running Amuck" SignI.
 fies in Oriental Countries.

fies in Oriental Countries.
 Running amuck" is a phrase deriv. ed from the Malay word 'amok" ("kill- ing'') and constitutes a well-marked hysterical affection of certain races in- habiting Oriental countries. It is rarely, ever, manifested among the quiet-tempered Hindus, and but seldom among the Indian Mussulmans. while whenever it does occur in Hindostan, the malady may generally be traced to the abuse of opium or the extract of hemp called bhang, ganja, or charras. The Hindu tobacconist sells special confection made up of bhang, opium, datura, cloves, mastic, cinnamon and cardamums, which is mixed with milk and sugar and eaten as 8 sweetmeat. This diabolical cake-known as majum will drive a man mad about as soon as any thing With the Malays. how ever, who have given a name to the terrible mental alteration of which we speak. and who are far the most addicted to it of all Eastern people, there is seldom any such eX- planation of the outbreak. Sud- denly, without rhymes or reason, man will spring up from his shop board or his couch, draw his kris-the wave -bladed dagger which they all carry-and, with a scream of "Amok! Amok!' strike its point into the heart of the nearest wayfarer and dart down the crowded bazar like the lunatic which he is, stabbing and cutting on all sides. "Amok! Amokn' echoes from a hundred mouths, and every body hurries for place of refuge, fleeing in all directions, except those bolder spirits who snatch up weapons of defense and join the armed throng which pursues the desperado. The path of the chase is soon strewn with bodies of men, women and children, dead or bleeding to death, until some lucky shot or daring thrust disables the murderer, who is pierced with dozen blades as soon as he falls to the ground. Occasionally it turns out that the 'amoker" has received some per- sonal affront or injury or was hope lessly in debt or disappointed in love; but more commonly there is nothing whatever to account for the wild fury of his proceedings, and the street sweepers drag his carcass away as carelessly as if 8 leopard had been slain in the public streets. So ordinary. indeed, is the occurrence that in many towns and cities where there lives a large Malay population an instru ment is kept in readiness at every police station called the "amoker catcher" It is something like an eel-spear with a very long handle, and so contrived that two elastic-pointed spikes close round the madman's neck and secure him helplessly when the iron prongs are pushed against his nape from be- hind.
 Neither rank nor wealth keeps a Malay from this sudden access of homicidal mania if he has the predis- position or has been greatly excited. There was an instance at Salatiga, in the island of Java, where the Regent was celebrating the marriage of two of his daughters, and every body was in & festive and joyous mood. Just, however at the gayest moment of the ceremonies, the Regents brother-in- law, high official, came rushing through the procession, stabbing every body he could get at with his jeweled kris. The Regent himself, coming up to inquire into the uproar, was killed by single thrust, and it was the brother of the Prince who ran the "amoker" through the back with spear and brought him down, yet not before he had slaughtered nine of the palace people and wounded six others more or less severely. London Telegraph.